I stopped here on a weekday morning for a cup of tea and scone, and I'm glad I found this place. The store had jars of available tea on the counter that you could smell before ordering. Everything smelled amazing, but I was a little overwhelmed by the options and ended up sticking to an Earl Grey. Nothing wrong with a classic, though! The scone tasted great with clotted cream and jam. Heavenly. I was so pleased with my tea I went back to the counter to buy a bag to take home. This time, I asked the woman working at the shop for some suggestions, and she walked me through the all the options. I ended up buying the Notting Hill, primarily because of the delicious smell and beautiful color. I gave it to my coworkers, and they all seemed to enjoy it. read more

Yumchaa Soho - Earl grey tea and a scone — simply delightful! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

Decent drink selection involving many different types of tea and lattes. I liked how there were many samples of baked goods at the counter to try. I tried a scone with clotting cream and jam and it was hard and crumbly. The turmeric and ginger latte flavors didn't blend well together and I was not a fan. There's quite a bit of seating and it's cozy. Service is good. Overall however, Yumchaa was disappointing. read more

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lAny tea latte is worth trying. I kid you not!!! Also worth buying some teas, which are reasonably priced. Large selection & helpful staff. Yumchaa is a great place to grab tea/coffee or even just to do some work! read more

Yumchaa Soho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

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Although this place is located so centrally, when you walk in it's a comfortable and relaxing atmosphere. This cafe serves tea - and many different kinds of it. There are little cups with all the different kinds available for you to smell and pick. You get your own little pot, and some teas should be brewed longer for the taste to come out. The staff was always helpful and nice when I went. The pastries are delicious as well. There's also wifi, although I've never used it. Though it seems to get busy, I've never had a problem finding a seat and having a long chat with a friend. I've brought locals and tourists here when I lived in London, and everyone loved it. read more

Amazing choices of tea ! I drank the "Egyptian nights" today ( a herbal tea with camomille and mint, perfect for digestion) with some honey banana yogurt. It was good and the price is fine. The tea was good and I loved the tea set However the waiter wasn't really smiling and nice. I felt I was annoying him with my questions about the different teas they had. Then, the place is pretty small, full and not that clean in my opinion but stills a nice place for tea lovers read more

Yumchaa Soho - Egyptian nights tea with honey banana yogurt. Perfect for a relaxing reading moment in the afternoon - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

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This is a cute place. They offer a stunning range of teas and even have a whole bunch of pots where you can get a sense of the fragrance of the teas you might want to try. I went for a Matche Latte and it was great. Its a taste I am acquiring and not just because my favourite footballers seem to like it. If this place were a film I would say it was the Best Exotic Marigold Hotel as it takes a classic and puts a new twist on it. read more

This is the most amazing magical place in the whole of Soho. Seriously! I'm both sad and happy when I think of this place, sad because I have only just discovered it (thank you Yelpers) as well as the fact I can't live here but happy as it's the most fantastically British experience of afternoon tea mixed with the diversity of teas from around the world. It really could be a metaphor for London! In this very cute little tea house there is a smell menu where you can sample all the teas and see how beautiful they all are, oh and they are just soooo beautiful. I insist that you sample the lemon drizzle cake although you may have a hard time avoiding the fat brownies and savory sandwich delights that flirt with you at the counter. Yes I know I have a problem with flirty food!!! So this place is mine now and yes you may visit but remember it is mine, all mine....damn it why did I have to Yelp about this. :O( read more

Yumchaa Soho - from website - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

What's not to love? -Pull yourself up from your tea-leaves mentality? Check. -An ethical business born of loft conversion dreams and market stall experiments? Check. -Warm, friendly staff that knows how to pick not only the right music, but select the right volume? (A rare art, if you ask me.) Check. -Cosiest of cosy shabby chic Soho spot? Check. -Moise cake? Check. -Free wi-fi? Check. -A name as simple as tea (chaa) that tastes good (yum)? Check. -A shake-'n'-sniff menu? Check. -Tea that lives up to the name and the hype? Check, check, check. read more

Yumchaa Soho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

I really like this tiny tea shop. Granted, it's what you'd class as a hipster-ish place, which is usually a nice thing if you can live with the wonky wooden chairs and worn out sofas and armchairs. I personally love it. It's one of my two go-to places when I'm meeting with potential clients (talking about an artsy kind of job) or just people I've never met before; I find that suggesting them the lemon drizzle cake is a good ice breaker. That's the one I always get and it's always paired with the lemon sherbet tea. Every time I go I say myself I'd try something new but I've yet to do so. I nibbled a piece of sweet scones from a friend and it was also really good, and my parents had the nutella and banana cake and vouched for it. They have free wifi and a pretty quiet and relaxed atmosphere that I love. The missing star is for having to wait to get a decent table most of the times and because I can't really judge a place as AWESOME if every time I go I order always the same two things :P read more

Yumchaa Soho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

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What a great cafe! Really liked it here. Only reason it's not 5 stars is that they didn't have enough staff on so everyone was waiting ages to order and the cakes looked really unappetising to the extent I didn't order one at all (and I am not someone not easily pleased by cake). However I've now seen the other Yelp reviews recommending the lemon drizzle cake, a cake I generally love...oh the regrets. The range of teas is very impressive and smells delicious; the chai latte was made from scratch using some kind of cool advanced device to strain it. There's lots of seating downstairs and unlike other basement cafes it's quite light due to good placing of the stair well opposite a large window. There are big tables if you want to get some work down and comfy leather sofas if you want to (or in my case need to, due to previous night's antics) just lounge. read more

As good as tea gets! A pot is £2.55 and is plenty for two large cups. They have about a trillion varieties of tea, but before you go and have a panic attack about which one to choose, know that they have brilliant little 'sniffing' cups in front of the tills! There's not much space upstairs, but downstairs there's a bunch of tables and a comfy-looking couch. It's a bit like a basement cavern, but it also has a certain Alice-in-Wonderland quality to it. read more

Yumchaa Soho - Earl Grey Blue Stars - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

Yumchaa, you are one classy broad. Tucked away in an unassuming corner of Soho, this quaint tea shop screams (well, maybe, softly and politely utters) 'I Love (Loose Leaf) Tea (Only).' From the beautiful, sniffable display in the front, showcasing the sheer number and variety of leaves that this shop carries, to the pastel coloured wallpaper hanging about, to the organic and unpretentious (if not, at times, mismatched) wooden furniture dotting the store, Yumchaa offers a sweet, comfortable, and delicious way to spend tea time. Just this last week, Yinnie C. and I stumbled upon Yumchaa while seeking refuge from the bitter cold. I had heard great things (and passed by the shop en route to The Breakfast Club, perhaps one too many times), but had never been in to try it out. Yumchaa's fogged up windows and seeming lack of mass hordes at around 1pm were more than enough to convince us to venture inside. Venture, we did, and how glad I am for this. Though we, annoyingly, spent ages selecting our tea and accoutrements (Yinnie got a bowl of the soup of the day: a hearty, homemade chicken noodle with a generous hunk of baguette), the staff at Yumchaa were helpful and patient, giving us recommendations on the different strengths and flavours of the tea the shop carried. Since the tea selection is split up into Black, Green, White, and Red (Rooibos) areas, it was easy to see (and smell!) what you were getting yourself into. In the end, I opted for the Enchanted Forest green tea (luckily, the last portion of the leaves they had for the day!), and Yinnie for a berry-flavoured green tea (can't quite remember the name at present, but it smelled very nice!). As described on Yumchaa's website, mine was a blend of 'Rhubarb, Cream, Blueberry Raspberry Pieces, Blackberry Pieces and Peony flowers with a Sencha green tea base.' A real mouthful, both in terms of the description and in terms of the taste that resulted! It was fruity, flowery, rich, and deep all at the same time...a real surprise for me, as I usually don't even like green tea due to its lack of richness and flavour! But Yumchaa, you have made me a convert - if I could (afford and) drink Enchanted Forest forever, I will immediately get on the green tea health hype that seems to be going on. I love that they serve the tea here in individual ceramic teapots that also act as covers/top portions for the matching, ceramic teacups on the bottom. They also give you a strainer and instructions to let the tea brew for a few minutes before drinking. I'm a real sucker for DIY fooding experiences, so this was very welcome. The only issue was we didn't drink it fast enough (savouring the incredible flavours of the tea we purchased, I suspect!), so it got pretty bitter and slightly cold toward the end. Oh well. In addition to teas brewed here, Yumchaa sells its leaves in bags, as well as a pretty hefty variety of sandwiches, cakes and snacks. I didn't try any of these this time around, so I can't comment. Like anything nice in this world, the teas don't come cheap. The two cups and bowl of soup that we purchased came out to around a tenner (which I guess isn't bad, all things considering...just can't do it all the time when ballin' on a budget like me). This is also the type of place that you need to sit down and really enjoy, so I wouldn't come here when you're on the go and looking for something quick. Stay classy, Yumchaa. I see you (and I like what I see). read more

Yumchaa Soho - though on a Yelpy mission today, there's always time for a cuppa. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

Oh... oh my. For years, decades even, I've watched friends and family members around me commit themselves to a caffeine chain of some sort; and I always watched the strong opinions and arguments thrown back and forth while sitting on the sidelines. Starbucks! Petes! Caribou! Blue Bottle! Philz! Dunkin Donuts! Coffee Bean! The list is exhausting, but as a tea drinker I never really found a strong allegiance. Everyone just served tea that was 'okay' and tucked it away behind droves of coffees that all seemed to eventually evolve into desserts of some sort. That all changed the second I walked into Yumchaa. I have my allegiance - I've found my team, and now I desperately want to bring them back to the United States. Star 1: How were the service and atmosphere? Yumchaa is a quaint little tea shop, but right from the get-go you can tell that, pretty much unlike anyone else, they take their tea very seriously. Loose leaves of black, red, white, and green teas sit in labeled cups and virtually any item can be made with the tea of your choice. I love that, and I could have sat there for an hour smelling and sampling all of the available teas. Star Granted. Star 2: How were the portions relative to the cost? Given that it was an exceptionally warm afternoon when I strolled into Yumchaa, I opted for an iced chai using their black chai leaves, and watched in amazement as it was made fresh with the proper infuser and poured over ice right in front of me. This was marvelous, and I was frankly surprised that it only ran me three pounds ten. Star Granted. Stars 3 and 4: How was the food? This was some seriously good chai. The bite was there without being too much, and the slow to build jolt was exactly what I needed. Next time I'll get more creative now that I know all of the resources at Yumchaa's disposal, but for now I'm glad I kept it simple so that I could make a proper assessment. Dual Stars Granted. Star 5: Would you eat here every day if you could? Yumchaa is my spot. Star Granted. read more

Yumchaa Soho - Iced Chai Black: £3.10 - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

Adorable little tea shop in London if you have LOTS of time on your hands. Things are very slow and relaxed here, from choosing your custom tea to the spotty WiFi. If you want a fast cup of coffee/tea and some steady Internet service, you want Starbucks, as much as it pains me to say that. If you want a cute London experience at a hipster tea shop, Yumchaa is your place. Note: try a sone with your afternoon tea...the Vanilla was my favorite. read more

I came here for a spot of tea! But when my friend's said let's go to Yumchaa, I told them I came here for tea time in the UK, not to hang out at a Chinese-themed place with small bites of dumplings. Despite the Chinese name, this place does not resemble China town at all. Instead, walk in and be greeted with a sense that you just arrived at your rustic cabin in the woods, wedged between a river where you catch your dinner at, and a mountain that you hike up for fresh berries to top on your breakfast. So what if there's really no river or mountain surrounding this place? The fact is, it provides this sense of a homey feeling in the middle of Soho! At the counter you will see a variety of tea leaves in small cups that you can sniff, examine, touch; basically do whatever with before ordering the right pot of tea for you! Choose a seat in their mixed and unmatched furniture downstairs, or gaze out at the London rain on the main floor next to a window. This place is a great alternative to a typical coffee house, to hang with your friends, play a board game, and drink a spot of tea. But for all you social media maniacs- be aware that there is no wifi here! read more

Yumchaa Soho - Smell the flavors!! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

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You'd think tea shops were easier to come by, but London seems flooded as anywhere else in the world with the same chain coffee shops... Searched tea on Yelp, glad we did! Bewildered by the choice of teas at the counter, staff guided my choice to a mild black tea with orange, lemon and blackberry. Very natural flavours. We enjoyed a scone too. Bonus: free pot refills! read more

Yumchaa Soho - Choice! - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

An independent tea shop in the middle of Soho. The cakes delicious. The teas breathtaking. From the standard peppermint tea to the interesting Lemon Sherbet. The price is reasonable for what you get. Downside: there isn't much space to have you delights so be aware of squeezing into a space. read more

Yumchaa Soho - Gluten Free Chocolate Brownie, Caramel Shortcakes with Peppermint Tea and Lemon Sherbet Tea. All together now 'Mmmmmmm'. - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

Free wifi, quiet area downstairs, nice variety of teas and cakes... In two visits, I tried the chai black (which was nice but not strong enough for my taste) and the chilli chilli (not hot at all but nice taste). I really liked their carrot cake! An oasis off Oxford St and Soho. read more

Yumchaa Soho - Yumchaa - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

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Great, Great, Great. Amazing tea, a huge variety of different teas. Everything is fresh and fragrant, I had an english breakfast tea, it was superb. the only small negative fact was the scone, not really fresh, but everything else was mouth watering. They have two different seating areas, both very crowded, but it totally worth it. would love to go back there. read more

Yumchaa Soho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

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This place was exactly what we were looking for as we were just wanting a place to sit and relax after dinner and walking around on our first night in London. We had flown into London that afternoon and had very little sleep on the lengthy plane ride over so we were tired but at the same time not yet ready to call it a night. We ordered a carrot cake, a couple scones, a couple pots of looseleaf teas (which we were able to smell before placing our orders) and I thought they'd made a mistake when I heard the total as it was very reasonably priced. We situated ourselves downstairs which was extremely cozy. Everyone downstairs kept to themselves and were quiet and well behaved. Lack of sleep was starting to creep in and I honestly could have taken a nap right then and there. In all, I'll liken Yumchaa to Starbucks being that while they have a large variety of tea flavors offered, it also might not be the ideal spot for picky tea drinkers or connoisseurs - however it gets the job done in getting your fix. And also, like many a Starbucks, an easy place to spot and meet up with a friend. read more

I came here for a business meeting with a client, it was her choice mostly with it's close proximity to the absolutely gorgeous silk society. It's alright, it's reasonable cost wise, and tastes OK, but it just doesn't meet up my expectations when you compare it to some of the other excellent things round her and across the capital. It did however have a cute indie playlist going on, and they sell loose leaf tea to drink and in bags with a good selection (If you call yourself a teashop and only offer PG, earl grey and peppermint, I'm going to be annoyed). Our table was quite dinky and pressed against the window so I didn't feel as if I could really get the work done as efficiently as I'd like, and I was given the vibe that they prefer the turnover than people settling in (when I do that, I do always buy extra tea, I don't just hog a table and steal the wifi and the charge points). All in all, it was good, people and drinks/pastries were pleasant enough, and I wouldn't refuse to go in again- but, with the sheer number of places available, I would probably prefer to give somewhere else a try. read more

Until further notice, yumchaa will be my favourite spot in Soho. As a bit of a proper tea whore/bore with a soft spot for cakes, I absolutely love it. Yumchaa is a cute and relaxed place serving lots of different tea blends in individual pots to happy people. All the blends are lined up on the counter for you to peruse, sniff and choose - arranged into black, green / white and red varieties. They all have lovely names. {I like Soho Spice. Apparently this is also Derren Brown's choice. Unconfirmed if this is where he gets his powers.} If you're a bit bewildered by the choice, the staff are supernice and help you pick one you'll like. Teas are made up per person and you get your own dinky tray (with elephants on) to take to your favoured spot. A word of warning to the weak - you'll definitely be asked if you need cake. The cakes are great. It is hard to say no. I strolled in on a sweltering day recently. Oh yeah, they serve each tea iced too! Some of them work impossibly well iced up. Just ask. Wifi is free, and during the week they serve made up lunches to take out. I've never tried one, as I'm never around during the week, and instead am just tantalised by the weekly email. One day! read more

Yumchaa Soho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

Cute little place offering a huge variety of loose teas for every tastes, plus plenty of different cakes and several sandwiches. I'd agree with what others have said about the slow service, and some labels/signs to say what all the cakes and sweet things are would have been helpful. Still, at just over £6 for a pot of tea, four macaroons and a breakfast yoghurt pot, it's fairly good value by London standards. I'd visit again for the tea and location alone. read more

Yumchaa Soho - Coffee & Tea Near Me - London, XGL

Not a great experience. Stopped by to purchase "Midnight Grey", a blend I'm partial to. After queuing for several minutes, I was fairly abruptly told "no, we don't have that for sale in bags". And then stared at until I went away. No "sorry, it's out of stock" or "you can try on the website". Just a slightly unhelpful bluntness... read more

Cute little spot, chill and cosy love it, great tea selection and people who come here are quiet well behaved and lovely + it is in Soho what else do you need ? Thumbs up read more

Went on a weekend to do some studying. Really nice comfortable environment, good wifi and friendly staff. They had about 20 types of lose tea on display which you can smell before ordering, I had a pot of oolong tea which was quite nice but the Matcha cake was average. Free lemon and cucumber water next to the counter anyone can help themselves with a glass (or two) read more

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Ways in which I love this place, I can't even count. But let us try: 1. Location. I can walk here from work in under five minutes. WIN. 2. Style. I adore the shop's sign. Yes, it's odd, but I think the typeface is beautiful. 3. Free WiFi. 'Nuff said. 4. Music. Always eclectic, but always good. 5. Cakes. I had the best muffin of my life here (toffee and apple). Oh. My. God. I'd visit just for the quality of its cakes alone. 6. Staff. Always lovely and very helpful. If you haven't been before, they won't sniff at you and be unfriendly. Oh, and you can reserve tables whenever you like. 7. Selection. An insane amount of specially-mixed blends of loose leaf tea (only, which makes for a proper cup!). Inspired and named-after the most random of things - 'adventure', 'regent's park', 'cinnamon'. Classic types of tea as standard. 8. Approach. Privately-owned and ethical. What more could you want? In short, GO THERE NOW. I do almost all of my meetings there now. read more

I can think of two places in Soho where you stick your happy little face into sets of big round cups and leave some cash at the counter. One of them is for 18+ only and the other is Yumchaa. And while the other place attempts to arouse alternative body parts, Yumchaa is all about the nose. Twenty or so cups of tea leaves are on display for your nasal pleasure. Shove your face all over them and inhale the caffeinated herbal goodness. Fresh fucking tea. Which one will you have? It doesn't matter - they're all good. I was verging on giving Yumchaa four stars, but to be honest I can't think of good reasons not to give five. Maybe I just wanted to say that someone could do world tea better, leaving the space open for me to finally open my own tea business... as if, that's EVER gonna happen. I'm all talk and sip and never much do. read more

I do like Yumchaa! It's a great name, and there's loads of unassuming space downstairs. Lots of fun flavours of cake (Jasmine and Matcha) alongside the regular carrot, red-velvet, banana etc. My buddy didn't like the turmeric latte, but then who would?! It's just to 'gram, natch ;) Lovely staff, generous portions and perfectly located on Berwick. One of my go-tos! read more

Don't CHAA wish your girlfriend was hot like TEA? Sorry, couldn't resist... When a friend suggested I join her in paying £2.50 for a cuppa, I thought she was having me on. Being easily swayed as I was, I obliged and wasn't disappointed...well, not entirely. I love the concept of Yumchaa, but the wide selection wasn't in keeping with the fast pace of your standard coffee shop. Although you're welcome to smell the beautiful display of tea leaf samples by the counter, I felt like I was being a nuisance to the customers queuing behind me. It was the kind of scenario that welcomed bottle-necking, as a small crowd gathered to smell the tea, eventually becoming a tad awkward, even in the blur of British politeness. To put it bluntly, there was an invasion of personal space, and not the good kind. I'm a fan of quick service but, being a Yumchaa virgin, I felt a bit rushed into buying the first thing that looked passable, their blended raspberry cooler. It didn't taste of very much and, though I appreciated it being made with fresh raspberries, had me spending more time chewing on seeds than I would have liked. For a shop with such a wide selection, I would have liked to see a menu of some sort, unless there was and I was just too scatter-brained to notice. The paninis weren't labelled, so I didn't know how much they cost or what was actually in them. I didn't enjoy having to interrupt the waitress, who was busy cleaning up, to ask - although she was more than happy to help. As much as I liked the tea (I took another stab in the dark and opted for Blueberry Hill: refreshing - good if you like sweet drinks), I wouldn't come back here for food. I didn't appreciate having to choose between being the awkward interrupter versus playing Russian roulette: the Lunchtime Edition. They sold packets of loose leaf tea, but it would have been nice if they sold tea strainers, as that was all that stopped me from buying any. Overall, it was a somewhat decent experience. There was a lot of available seating for such a small shop (this may have been due to being there in the middle of a weekday), a good selection of music playing and free, but admittedly shaky Wi-Fi. I don't know if I would go out of my way to go there again, but, as soon as I get a tea strainer, I will be ordering the Blueberry Hill and the Caramel Sweetheart by the pack-load. read more

Desperate to escape my room that seems to only be a hole that ruins all motivation, I looked to yelp for help (haha) of a haven for free wi fi with tea. I know, I know, if you've checked out my profile, learning that I am originally from Seattle-HOW COULD I DO SUCH A THING?? Especially as a fairly large Starbucks was only located on the other side of the street! Well, I don't know. I guess when you've been surrounded by coffee your whole life sometimes swearing it off for a while isn't such a bad thing. I'm in England for goodness sake! The land of tea! And tea is where I am. With lovely quaint little tables surrounded by either long wide windows or rustic brick this tea house is exactly where I want to be. I was lucky enough to snag a table and huzzah! There is an outlet nearby. There is more seating downstairs but I haven't scoped it out yet. The music can be a little loud, but not louder than the other tea enthusiasts that fill up the place. Ordering was a little scary because I've never been here before, wasn't sure how it worked, do you get a single cup? How big is a whole pot? I don't like asking questions (weird thing about me) but what was lovely were all the little espresso cups filled with the loose tea leaves of what you could order. With a long line behind me I saw the word 'carmel' and ordered a pot of Russian carmel having no idea what it is. My total was £2.10, what a look of shock on my face! (also to answer how big a pot is, it's about 2 large saucer cups of tea) The staff are kind, friendly, and sweet when I asked for the password to use the free wi fi which an excellent connection by way! I've just sipped my Russian Carmel and it is so much more than I expected. I've always thought of myself as an enjoyer of tea, knowing loads about it. I think I just got schooled. The sweetness, smoothness, strong but not over powering flavor, I have never tasted the likes of such goodness. (unless it's coffee from my hometown) I can't wait to finish my pot of tea so I can order the 'Lemon sherbet'. Thank you Yelpers so much for helping me discover everything this city has to offer. read more

Traveling to London the wife and I had a deal she would get to have a tea experience everyday and I would get to hit a pub. Sounded good to me. Wanting to make it special I fired up the Yelp machine to find good tea places. Yumchaa was the top of the hits and rightly so. First off, the selection of teas was excellent. Black, green, herbal al sorts to be stepped in your own pot. Not a tea bag in sight as it is all loose leaf. Then there are the pastries. The lemon pound cake was so tasty and with the perfect tart/sweet lemon frosting. I would fly over the pond to get some. (okay a slight exaggeration) The brownie was sublime as well. read more

Oh Yelp, you came and you saved me... What a lovely place! I was looking for some place new and different to meet up with a friend. We always stick with our tried and true brunch spots, but this time I wanted to branch out of the normal eggs benedict routine. Enter afternoon tea at Yumchaa. For 4.50 I had hands down one of the best pots of green tea that I have ever sampled (no bittnerness!) and a coconut macaroon drizzled with dark chocolate. In addition, my friend and I were able to catch up over several hours with no patrons or staff hustling us to give up our seats. Can't wait to come back and sample more teas. read more

Yumchaa is by far my favorite place to work in Soho. Between the grandma-esque wallpaper and vintagey-feel, it's quite a gem. With an upstairs and a downstairs (admittedly I've never been downstairs) a plethora of delicious teas and baked goods, Yumchaa is a freelancer's dream come true. The WiFi is free but the signal isn't very strong upstairs, and the bathroom isn't exactly posh - but the music is kitschy and as long as you by a couple cuppas, the staff are happy for you to sit on your ass typing away on your laptop. It's a bit small so it's not the place to bring a group of friends for a chat, but perfect for one-on-ones or just going solo. Favorite Tea: Wanderlust Favorite Treat: Lemon Drizzle Cake read more

Spying Yumchaa's sign on Berwick Street brought a smile to my face. Yum Cha is Cantonese for 'drink tea' and is used as a greeting or invitation in Chinese culture. The Chinese have a long history of tea drinking and I was expecting a Chinese themed tea drinking den. To my surprise, I found Yumchaa to have a bit of an identity crisis though I can't fault the food and drink. There were signs with Latin phrases on the wall and the Chinese influence stopped with the sign! There is a bewildering choice of black, green and fruit teas. Yumchaa has a nice touch in that you can can smell all the different tea leaves before you decide on your brew - the leaves are available to smell in cute tiny milk jugs. Feel free to ask for advice and the staff are only too happy to recommend you their favourites. Tea afficianados will no doubt be glad that the hot water is poured straight onto the tea leaves in the teapot and your cuppa arrives with a strainer. There is also a tempting array of cakes and posh sandwiches. From personal experience, the lemon drizzle cake can be recommended! As it's slightly off the tourist trail of Oxford Street, it retains a calm atmosphere and is the perfect place to escape the madding crowd and have a cup of tea and cake. read more

By far the most innovative in tea offerings on the list (though Bou Tea is a close second), I am always surprisingly satisfied by the selection at Yumchaa. Not to mention, the teas are all lined up on the counter upon entering, so you can smell before you buy. Right now, I'm a fan of the Wild Rose and the Mango Sunrise, but with the numerous offerings you can try a different blend each and every time (red, white, black, green--I thought I was only a green tea drinker until I came here!). And, if you're really impressed you can purchase a bag of the loose leaf tea to bring home and brew yourself. Added bonus for students: On Sundays if you bring your valid ID card they give you a pot of Yumchaa tea and a piece of cake for only 3 quid. read more

The ambience of this coffeeshop got me the minute I stepped into Yumchaa Soho; any place that plays The Kooks and The Smiths quietly in the background is as good as gold to me. Their loose leaf teas are great for gifts and they have custom blends such as the Regents Park. They have mini tea samples at the cashier for you to take a whiff of each and pick your choice of tea. The tea is high quality and while the sweets look good, the Matcha & Jasmine Cake was a bit disappointing. The sponge was dry/lacked flavor and the icing was cloyingly sweet with cream cheese. I would stick with the herbal teas and ambiance if I were you! The service is also hit/miss, some of the staff come off cold. Come with a friend and grab a seat because space is quite limited but Yumchaa is definitely a reliable coffee shop if you're in Soho. read more

I thought I had already reviewed this place. Came here with Larissa G for some tea. duh. After some grueling Oxford street shopping. I love the little sample cups so you can see and smell all the different kinds of tea. Some really irritated tea wrangler behind the counter must have created this system. I would hate to have to go through the entire list with someone while a line of ten people wait behind them. I was really thirsty actually and when I picked up one cup and took a whiff I actually said out loud "OOH! I Want This One!" Lemon Sherbet. Deeeelicious. No sugar needed. But milk can make it a little something special, if you're of the dairy persuasion. read more

I can't believe I've discovered this amazing tea room so late! If I were the Asian JK Rowling, Yumchaa is the place to come. I spent three hours writing away here for the price of £5. Honey and tea? Mmmmm! I wish I had more time to try all the flavours, but of the ones I tried, Red Christmas is amazing. My favourite one is Wanderlust - it smells like traveling. The scents are so delicious on its own, you just need to ask for a recommendation and you surely won't be disappointed. Early Grey Blue Star has a youthful elegance. I can't imagine drinking my tea from anywhere else! I've been to the one in Camden, but the one in Soho is my favourite (well mainly because they have a bathroom I don't need to pay 40p for). Also, remember to visit a stall and ask for their card! It gives you a free pot of tea! read more

This is the story about how Brinda and I took a trip to the enchanted forest and also took a walk in the woodland (respectively) and without the use of drugs. So, we were out in Soho, on a mission during the ice age. (otherwise known as March 2013, the year of no spring) We needed to warm up and across a bitterly cold hobbit house, we spied a teahouse. Yumchaa, the chinese word for drink tea! Are we in China? No, we're still in Soho, and Yumchaa looked so warm and inviting. On arrival at the till, we were encourage to peruse, with our noses into little tea cups, and it was split into a selection of black, green, white and red tea. It was AMAZING. Brinda wanted to go all magical and went for the enchanted forest. I went down the realistic muggle side and took a walk in the woodland. Brinda's tea had notes of rhubarb and cream and mine had a less sweet undertone as mine was a berry with a black tea base, whilst hers was a green tea. My only complaint is that the smell was more amazing than the taste. The taste was great but the smell was amazing! Also, it got bitter and cold quite quickly. To combat the ice age, also got a hearty chicken soup too! I loved Yumchaa and will be back to try the different teas, maybe I won't take a walk in the woods, but spend the afternoon in a russian caravan. Dodgy, it may sound, but I will be assured to know that there is no teabagging involved. read more